Green Infrastructure Strategy

Buckfastleigh & Buckfast

Neighbourhood Plan

2017 - 2027

Document prepared by Landsmith Associates Ltd and Tor Ecology Ltd

Front cover image: View from Church Steps, Buckfastleigh © Derek Harper, geograph.org.uk/p/1124090 Issue Date 06.07.18

Version 3.0

Copyright This report and associated documentation is to be used for its intended purpose only, copyright is retained by Landsmith Associates Ltd and Tor Ecology Limited. This document is not to be used by any third party without the written agreement of Landsmith Associates and Tor Ecology Limited. All photos copyright of Tor Ecology/Jenni Reid unless otherwise stated.

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Executive Summary

Buckfastleigh Town Council are in the process of producing a Neighbourhood Plan (NP) for the Parish of Buckfastleigh and Buckfast for the period 2017 – 2027. This ambitious document details the aspirations and direction of the community. The Town Council commissioned this Green Infrastructure Strategy (GIS) to support the emerging NP. Analysis completed during the site appraisal identified that the Parish is an area rich in biodiversity and landscape value, however it lacks in pedestrian access and an interconnected off-road cycle network, the public realm is lacking in cohesion and continuity and flood events are common, negatively impacting on local business and residents. A range of proposals have been outlined within this strategy to inform future growth, including enhancement of biodiversity networks, creation of a more sustainable and active travel network and improvement of key gateway sites. This document is intended as an outline document only, providing a direction and proposals to be brought forward in the future by the Community and the Parish. Following the approval of the neighbourhood plan, there are several potential future steps including exploration of funding opportunities for feasibility studies and further community engagement to develop some of the ideas contained within this document. Potential funding opportunities, and further details of proposals are contained within the report and appendices.

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Contents

Executive Summary 3

Introduction 5

Methodology, Purpose and Status 6

Aims and Objectives 7

Guiding Principles 8

Location 12

Site Appraisal 14

Summary of Site Appraisals 21

Proposals 22

Next Steps… 28

Conclusions 29

Appendices 30

References 37

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Round Cross viewed from Church Cross road, Buckfastleigh. Introduction

“Green infrastructure (GI) is a network of multifunctional green space, urban and rural, which is capable of delivering a wide range of environmental and quality of life benefits for local communities” National Planning Policy Framework, 2016i. Local planning authorities should: “set out a strategic approach in their Local Plans, planning positively for the creation, protection, enhancement and management of networks of biodiversity and green infrastructure”, National Planning Policy Framework, 2016ii. In February 2018 Buckfastleigh Town Council proposals do not fall within the scope of this (BTC) appointed Landsmith Associates and Tor document. Ecology to produce a Green Infrastructure It should be noted that the development of Strategy (GIS) to accompany the Buckfastleigh & proposals associated with the Buckfast area are Buckfast Neighbourhood Plan (BBNP). The BBNP limited within this document. Buckfast Abbey is being prepared within the context of the provide support for the management of public Dartmoor National Park Authority Core Strategy realm within the locality of the village (via mowing Development Plan Document (June 2008) and the regimes and management of green space in and Teignbridge Local Plan (adopted 6th May 2014). around the locality of the Abbey) and are in The purpose of this GIS is to produce a series of ownership of much of the land and buildings evidence-based outline proposals to inform and within the village. As such, emerging proposals guide BBNP policies and to provide a framework within this area should be developed in close for the future direction of the Parish for the next association with the Abbey as key stakeholders. 15 years. This GIS is intended to contribute to and This level of consultation did not fall within the compliment the Neighbourhood Plan. Detailed scope of this document.

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Methodology, Purpose and Status

This aspirational strategy is informed by the Proposals are outlined within this document; proposals and findings as set out in the however detailed development of these Neighbourhood Development Plan, site proposals falls outside of the scope of this appraisals, desktop studies, local, national and strategy and should be regarded as a separate international planning policy and guidance, scope of works. designated sites and best practice guidance. In The scale of the site appraisals and proposals addition, site visits were undertaken with Judith contained within this document are separated Hart, Inga Page and Councillor Simon Rines into two types: from Buckfastleigh Town Council. The document was also developed with 1. Wider Rural Area – to include the entire consideration to past stakeholder and Parish council boundary and approximately community consultations which highlighted local 2km beyond to illustrate wider connections aspirations and needs. and context. The wider area plan shows connections to surrounding GI outside the Liaison and input from the local and county Parish boundary and beyond. GI stretches authority officers from Dartmoor National Park from the local micro scale to macro regional Authority have assisted in ensuring that the and international scale at a broad strategic proposals tie in with local proposals and level. These include, for example, planting principles. Teignbridge District Council and strategies, foot and cycle networks, Devon County Council had also had ecological habitats and biodiversity networks. opportunities to review and provide comments during the development of this strategy; no 2. Local Urban Context – This focuses on the formal comments have been issued at date of more detailed strategies for each of the final publication. settlements, Buckfastleigh and Buckfast. These strategies include public realm Local guidance policies including the Devon improvements, expanding local access, County Council Green Infrastructure Strategy increasing biodiversity, flood prevention and Guiding Principlesiii create the framework for this food production. document whilst the proposals developed within it are individually developed and tailored to the The proposals within this document can also area. inform tangible schemes with funding potential for future infrastructure improvements; parks There are a variety of proposals which are and gardens, streets/public realm, public formal intended to be implemented in the short-term (6 squares and spaces, woodlands and green links months), medium-term and long-term. The (typology of open spaces based on PPG17 proposals can be used to inform tangible classificationv). schemes with funding potential for infrastructure improvements, parks and gardens, streets/public realm, public formal squares and spaces, woodlands and green links (classification of these open space categories is based on PPG17 classificationiv). These proposals need to be developed further and supported by local landowners, the community and other stakeholders in the area to ascertain deliverability and suitability. Some of the schemes set out in this strategy could benefit the NDP process however others could be developed in partnerships with the local authority.

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Aims and Objectives

The key aim of this Green Infrastructure The BBNP refers to several concepts which are Strategy (GIS) is to create, enhance and renew relevant to the aims of this GIS. These include: networks and spaces, connecting the natural and built environment by: • To support economic growth that is sustainable and economically vibrant • Developing and supporting the sustainable attracting people who can enjoy the long-term vision of the Parish combined benefits of living and working in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. • Improving and creating a more pedestrian- led public realm • To encourage active travel and improve Parish infrastructure by creating a network of • Enhancing biodiversity and natural capital vi footpaths and cycle trails leading to greater value access to nature, improved health and • Encouraging active travel and enhancing wellbeing and a reduction in car travel. health and wellbeing • Improving the public realm by enhancing • Inspiring community cohesion and increasing green space and important ‘gateway’ sites social interaction used by the community for leisure and • Responding to climate change and creating a recreation. more resilient landscape • Create better vocational training and leisure • Providing a framework and structure to facilities locally for young people and inform and guide new development eradicate social isolation through community support initiatives. • Encouraging children to be close to nature, in and out of school • To showcase the importance of the rich heritage of the Parish and protect and • Encouraging local food production and enhance the internationally significant sustainable foraging biodiversity and geodiversity of the Parish. • Reinforcing green links through the town and • To recognise the contribution of the rural beyond; from green roofs to woodland landscape and farming within the Parish and to support emerging farming policy such as The focus of the BBNP, relevant aims of which access to the countryside and meadow have been incorporated into this document, is to planting. shape future development (in particular on • To respond positively to climate change by brown field sites) and support growth within the increasing in local food production, Parish. Consultation through the BBNP with the supporting biodiversity and implementing soil community has laid out a vision for the future of care plans. the Parish within the draft BBNP as follows:

“We want to see a Parish that is sustainable, economically vibrant, environmentally beautiful and protected, culturally rich and a socially friendly and caring place to live, work and visit.”

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Guiding Principles

Based on Devon County Council's GIS Guiding principles for Devonvii

The River Dart, Devon, England ©Edwardsian Sheffield’s Grey to Green SUD’s scheme © Nigel Dunnett 1. Planning for green 2. Ensuring resilience in water and infrastructure from the outset flood management Planning for green infrastructure by providing Flooding and storm events are impacting on connections between the built and natural people and property at a local and national environments is vital for people and scale. Soil erosion further contributes to societyviii. Embedding green infrastructure flooding and poor water quality. Locally, the into the Buckfastleigh and Buckfast (BflBf) Devon Green Infrastructure Strategy provides neighbourhood planning process will provide guiding principles to ensure water resilience clear proposals that can be written into and flood management including the improvement of water quality in Devonx. emerging policy and are supported by the Internationally and nationally, there has been NPPF. Consideration of strategic green an assessment of the risks of poor water infrastructure (within the context of the qualityxi and policy documents now provide neighbourhood plan area), national and management plans for water quality international policy and best practice improvement. guidelines can provide an evidenced-based framework from which to develop and guide The water quality of BflBf River Dart and future growth in BflBf and its wider context. A Mardle tributaries has major implications on GIS has the potential inform future funding of ecology, agriculture, economy and the quality xii public services and infrastructure in the local of the surrounding landscape . GI reduces the xiii area via central government funding grants and risk of flooding by including proposals to Section 106 and CILix. It has the capacity to increase vegetation cover around blue guide the community and provide ideas to infrastructure and on uplands areas. Adopting xiv assist grant and fundraising applications. water sensitive design principles also makes existing and proposed areas of development more resilient to flooding and storm events. Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) such as ponds, rain gardens (see image above) and green roofs, can deliver multiple functions aside from flood resilience, such as biodiversity and townscape enhancements. Refer to appendix

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Bumble Bee © Copyright Jonathan Kington Round Cross towards Glebelands, Buckfastleigh

3. Protecting and enhancing 4. Conserving, enhancing and biodiversity strengthening links with Increasing the biodiversity network is critical in landscape terms of supporting ecosystem services (benefits provided by the natural environment The landscape is the most important for humankind )1. Future growth and environmental and educational asset to the Parishxv. The diversity of the landscape development within the Parish will need to character of the BflBf Parish is highly valued by respond to the NPPF and should “contribute the community and visitors; it attracts tourism, to and enhance the natural and local economic investment and offers a positive environment by minimising impacts on quality of life for those living and working within biodiversity and providing net gains in the area. The surrounding natural environment biodiversity where possible”. This will be has developed from a combination of achieved by linking the existing green corridors influences including farming, cultural heritage within the Parish area through enhancing and natural landform. hedgerows and river corridors, woodland planting, replacing and managing traditional GI contributes to health and wellbeing by orchards and encouraging biodiverse field supporting links to the natural environmentxvi. margins. New green spaces within the public These links can be visual (such as long views realm and wildlife sites within the urban to wider countryside) or physical (foot and cycle context will be created locally whilst ways to increase active travel and access to agricultural land will be managed for the the countryside) and can shape community benefit of wildlife, aligning with the targets in identity and cohesion. As the population of the the DEFRA 25 Year Environment Plan. BflBf Parish grows it will be crucial to enhance the quality and function of the public realm and Strategic GI has many positive impacts on GI to continue to strengthen these links with the habitats and species, allowing for increased countryside. movement between habitats, by reducing inbreeding effects and promoting hybrid vigour. GI creates what is known as ‘connected metapopulations’ ensuring continued biodiversity resilience.

1 Ecosystem services are the benefits provided by wcmc.org/EcosystemAssessmentConcepts/EcosystemService ecosystems that contribute to making human life both possible s/tabid/103/Default.aspx and worth living. http://uknea.unep-

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Buckfast Abbey, Buckfast 5. Conserving and enhancing the historic environment The cultural and historical context of BflBf is an integral part of the socio-economic and physical fabric of the area. Built historic forms have developed within the setting of local greenspace, woodlands, hedgerows and Church steps, Buckfastleigh traditional orchards. The area is rich in culture and heritage with a strong sense of identity that 6. Enabling access, fitness and attracts people to live, visit and work in the contact with nature area. There are a multitude of links between GI, Heritage is a strong asset to the area; an quality of life and health. Research evidence irreplaceable resource. Historic natural features shows that contact with nature effects people are a contributing element to green positively, making them healthier and happier, infrastructure planningxvii and these can enabling them to work more productively (for include, historic hedgerows, ancient woodlands instance, recent studies have shown mental and traditional orchards. health benefits of listening to birdsongxviii). There may be extensive surrounding natural green space within an area, however access can be limited. Encouraging a diversity of active travel routes and enhancing public spaces has multiple benefits, including a reduction in social isolation, provision of safe routes to schools, managing air pollution by reducing short car journeys, and reducing carbon emissions. By increasing links to green spaces and nature there will be less need for medical interventionxix and a reduction of the strain on the NHSxx. In addition, there will be a corresponding increase in property and retail value to the local economyxxi. What is key when designing these links is quality; a diversity of use and type, proximity to the community, ease of access, and a feeling of security.

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Community Farm share, Dartington, Permaculture Magazine 7. Securing local food supply River Mardle, Buckfastleigh Food security is becoming an issue of 8. Responding to climate change increasing concern global, nationally and Increasing the sustainability of the Parish locally. Between 2007-2013 food prices rose by supports adaptation to the effects of climate 12.6% above inflation in the UK. A supply of change. Reducing carbon emissions, securing fresh locally produced food is central to the local food supply and enhancing ecosystem aims of sustainable development and has a servicesxxii (benefits provided by the natural host of economic, social and environmental environment for humankind) can all result in benefits. More locally grown food produce, and habitat resilience. provision of edible community assets Provision of more active travel routes reduces contributes to the local economy, strengthens carbon emissions, particularly for short local distinctiveness and adds to a sense of journeys. Attractive travel routes (utilising multi- belonging. GI can safeguard and expand the functional design principals) can entice people provision of allotment space, community into an area whilst helping to reduce, for gardens and public spaces for food markets. In instance, the impact of flooding by using addition, providing wildflower meadows and vegetation to create a comprehensive network increasing biodiversity planting within the wider of habitats. area can attract pollinating insects which can assist in creating a more resilient landscape. 9. Generating income and attracting investment GI is vital for thriving economy, environment and communityxxiii For example, developers are willing to pay between 3% to 15% more if land is close to open space (The value of placemaking, 2013). There is also evidence that green space increases retail profits by 16%, and where there are street trees and parks research show an increase between 3% to 34% in property valuesxxiv

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Figure 1 Location plan showing wider context Location

The civil Parish of Buckfastleigh & Buckfast (as The market town is medieval in origin, with the shown on figure 1 and 2) falls equally within the rivers historically supporting a number of mills authority of both Dartmoor National Park used for processing a variety of materials, Authority (to the north of the A38) and including wool, corn and paper. A tannery is Teignbridge District Council (to the south). The also located along the river and is still in use Parish is bisected by the A38 which runs north- today. A Conservation Area covers around half east to south-west and forms the boundary of the town. In the latter half of the 20th century, between the two council areas. Buckfastleigh significant development took place in and Buckfast (BflBf) are the gateway Buckfastleigh to both the north and the south of settlements to the south-eastern edge of the the historic core along the River Mardle. Dartmoor National Park. Buckfast is located on the gentler lower slopes Buckfastleigh town centre is clustered in the to the north east adjacent to the River Dart. The lower slopes of a river valley adjacent to the village is home to the Buckfast Abbey. The Dart and Mardle rivers. The town fans out to the hillsides that surround BflBf restrict long views west, aligning against the A38 corridor to the from the town centre. The undulating and south west and the hills of lowland Dartmoor to steeply sloping hills are a key characteristic of the north west (Glebelands). the area

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Figure 2 Location plan showing Parish Council Boundary

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Site Appraisal

Round Cross towards Glebelands, Buckfastleigh

Due to the nature of the landform the Parish To the south of the A38 the Parish falls within the retains much of its historic landscape character NCA South Devon 152 and the Devon Landscape and is moulded by a history of sheep farming and Character Areas: Mid Dart Valley and Slopes. The the physical constraints of the River Dart and its landscape is greatly undulating with rolling pasture tributaries. It is dominated by a mosaic of consisting of small fields with dense hedgerow undulating lowland meadows, traditional orchards boundaries interspersed with broadleaved and pockets of woodland. woodland, good quality semi-improved grassland and large pockets of traditional orchard. The northern extents of the Parish mark the gateway to the moors and fall within the Dartmoor The western extents of the Parish support NCA 150 and Devon Landscape Character Areas: expanses of ancient replanted woodland, pasture Ashburton and Dartmoor Foothills. and lowland meadows. The area consists of a mosaic of semi-improved The settlements in this area are isolated and neutral grassland, scrub and bracken with dispersed, much of the area consists of mixed broadleaved woodland habitats, and pockets of farming, with fields flanked by Devon hedge banks steep south-facing unimproved lowland meadow. and narrow winding lanes. Traditional orchard and ancient and semi-natural The majority of woodlands within the Parish are woodland exist in numerous pockets throughout mixed deciduous with some coniferous trees; the Parish. these are located on lower slopes aligning with the The eastern boundary is defined by the River Dart River Dart and Mardle. They are formed in corridor, a meandering wooded habitat with limited isolated, narrow linear blocks. access to pedestrians and vehicles.

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View from Higher Mill Lane towards Buckfast Abbey, Buckfast The higher slopes of the surrounding hilltops and The Parish supports rare and important flora, ridgelines have little wooded cover. There is a thin fauna and habitats. Buckfast Hill Deptford Pink strip of Ancient Woodland that aligns the River County Wildlife Site (CWS) is designated for Mardle to the north east. The only significant Deptford Pink, a rare flowering plant that has woodland blocks locally are outside of the Parish undergone huge declines in recent years is only boundary. supported on around 15 sites in the UK. Numerous Unconfirmed Wildlife Sites (UWS) Landscape sensitivity is the degree to which the including West Mill Cross, Churchill Farm and landscape can accommodate change without Whitecleave Wood are considered likely to adverse impact on its character. There is, to the support significant wildlife interest. wider surrounding landscape of BflBf, a high level of landscape sensitivityxxv to future development, It is home to one of the largest populations of as BflBf northern boundary overlaps the Dartmoor Greater Horseshoe bat within Western Europe. National Park. However, the immediate fringes of One of the series of Sites of Special Scientific Buckfastleigh has medium to high landscape Interest (SSSI) that form the South Hams Greater sensitivity to future development. Horseshoe Bat Special Area of Conservation (SAC) is located within the town of Buckfastleigh, The Parish is rich in ecological and landscape centred around Buckfastleigh Caves. This is used value. Much of this value is concentrated around by the bats as a key roost site for hibernation and the waterways and woodland blocks and is breeding and is of international importance with associated with designated sites (including DNP, almost the entire Parish being located within a SACs, SSSIs and other Wildlife sites). The sustenance zone (Sclater, 2010) associated with concentration of these sites reduces on higher the SAC and with key linear features (rivers, roads land along with the absence of woodland blocks etc) and used as strategic flyways (Sclater, 2010). and waterways, although linear features of value (hedgerows and country lanes) are present.

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A38 and Buckfastleigh viewed from A384 crustaceans. Holne Road Regionally Important Geological Site (RIGS) is of importance for its The River Dart and the A38 act as sub-regional upper Devonian grey Kate Brook Slate intruded by green corridors bisecting the site, following the Permian Lamprophyre, and purple and green contours of the landform and linking north to south Gurrington Slate intruded by Devonian basic rock. and east to west. Several springs, tributaries and rivers are present The settlements of Buckfastleigh and Buckfast within the Parish with the River Mardle (running form the heart of the Parish with tributaries of the west to east through Buckfastleigh town joining River Dart and contours of the land prescribing the River Dart running north to south through the where the settlement has developed over time. Parish. Flooding is a key issue in lower areas of Landform is also dictated by the rich geological the landform with a flood zone extending through history with features of interest including the town of Buckfastleigh and extending into the Buckfastleigh Caves and Potters Wood caves eastern end of Buckfast. Flooding may be linked (designated geological SSSI (SSSI)). The caves with lack of significant vegetation on the upper were formed during the Pleistocene period and slopes of surrounding hillsides. Buckfastleigh Caves are one of Britain’s outstanding locations for Pleistocene mammals. The cave waters are also important for aquatic

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Fore Street, Buckfastleigh Buckfastleigh is an old market town with amenities Buckfast Abbey. Buckfast has its own unique including shops, local and national businesses, historic centre associated with the Abbey. tourist attractions including a steam railway, The A38, although a viable car-based asset, also school, a library, community spaces, a swimming creates a linear physical barrier dividing the Parish pool and several places of worship. There is a into two parts. The A38 flyover is audially present compact historical core at the centre of and visually dominant outside the town centre. Buckfastleigh town with a distinctive character, The flyover creates a ‘deadzone’ and is combining a history of light industry and residential disorienting for visitors to the area from the Steam settlement. The rural farm and industry are glued Railway station. Noise and air pollution from the together by the local community. Thriving A38 degrades the quality and experience of the businesses have been founded here and continue landscape locally and impacts on health and well- to grow. beingxxvi. However, there are also strong rural qualities within the Parish, with high levels of The historic town centre of Buckfastleigh consists tranquillity further afield from the A38 corridor. of two storey terraced housing, hidden Devon Okes, for example Dial Court, independent shops The population of Buckfastleigh is predicted to defined by a narrow one-way road network. decrease between 2011 and 2026xxvii. There is an Historic and modern industry units in the town are aging population, a higher prevalence of poor visually apparent from the town centre and the health within Neighbourhood Plan area than outskirts of the town and are up to 4/6 storeys district averages and significantly higher high. deprivation levels in parts of Buckfastleigh than xxviii Buckfast is steeped in history and the location of other parts of South Devon . Buckfast Abbey, an active Benedictine monastery, Buckfastleigh and Buckfast lie in the river valley of a village hall, school and village shop. Buckfast the Mardle and Dart although access is extremely also includes features of historic importance, limited to the riverside. Buckfastleigh hides much including a Scheduled Ancient Monument (The of the River Mardle as is set in a more urban North Gate) and part of the precinct area of context behind buildings. The River Dart is a little

19 © more visible by the steam railway however inaccessible for the majority of visitors and the community. Although there is extensive surrounding rolling countryside, there are a significant lack of local footpaths from the town centre to the wider countryside. The limited range of footpaths in the town of Buckfastleigh and Buckfast, in particularly connecting the two settlements, offers very limited access to the river and surrounding countryside. There are no clear circular walks or linking cycle paths. A38 fly-over leading to Steam Railway, Buckfastleigh Busy roads and junctions at key gateway points lack safe and attractive crossing points for pedestrians. These gateways points are a missed opportunity as they do not encourage visitors to explore Buckfastleigh.

Dial Court Oke, Buckfastleigh

Buckfast Road and Higher Mill Lane roundabout junction, Buckfast View of Station Road junction, Buckfastleigh

Fore Street, looking towards Chapel Street, Buckfastleigh Junction of Plymouth Road and Bossell Road, Buckfastleigh

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Summary of Site Appraisals

In summary, The primary principles for improvement of the Parish through GI are: • There is a lack of pedestrian access within the town of Buckfastleigh and village of Buckfast, • Reinforcing local identity and distinctiveness; and throughout the wider area; • Promoting health and wellbeing; • The Parish lacks an interconnected off-road • Strengthening community and cohesion; cycle network to provide access from the town • Creating a more pedestrian-led town centre of Buckfastleigh and village of Buckfast to and new town market square; tourist attractions, and long distance to Totnes, isolating the rich landscape, rural communities • Encouraging sustainable active travel with a and farmland within the BBNP area; variety of routes and spaces; • There is a lack of diversity of landscape within • Enhancing biodiversity & managing the the local townscape environs; environment; • There is a rapid change of landscape character • Introducing and reinforcing vegetation to help from riverside meadows, woodland blocks, mitigate against climate change and flooding; farmland and orchards to industrial units and • Promoting sustainable water sensitive design residential settlement; principles. • Flood events are common in the town of Buckfastleigh and village of Buckfast, negatively impacting on local business and residents • The steep slopes of the hilltop farmland that surround Buckfastleigh and Buckfast offers little woodland cover or prevention to flood in the lower areas and town. • There is a lack of continuity and cohesion between the settlements of Buckfastleigh and Buckfast in terms of public realm and access; • The Parish supports a wide and diverse range of biodiversity, habitats and species.

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Proposals

View of River Dart from Dartbridge Road, Buckfastleigh Footpath, Buckfastleigh • Create a community bee apiary in collaboration Ensuring resilience in water and flood with Buckfast Abbey to inspire community management cohesion and provide for cottage industries; • Introduce vegetation in the form of hedgerows, • Installation of enhancements for biodiversity woodland blocks and buffer planting laterally, within any development proposals including the following contours along the hilltops to act as a creation of “habitat walls” and “living walls” for 'sponge' and baffle to retain water on the upper invertebrates, integrated bat and bird boxes slopes to mitigate against future flooding; Refer and landscape planting using native species of to appendix 2 for more details local provenance; • Provide raingardens and soft landscape • Provision of habitat for bird, bat and approach to sustainable urban design including invertebrates at key gateway sites. Refer to retrofitting existing streets, car parks and Appendix 3 for more details on habitat extensive hard landscape areas; enhancements; • Consider introducing more street trees on ‘build • Provide safe passage for Otters on out’ road corners and wider roads; watercourses under bridges and through culverts; • Consider planting along the banks of the River Dart and Mardle where appropriate, to stabilise • Planting of hedgerows with a minimum of 7 slopes and increase absorbency of water native species along Parish boundaries, runoff; strengthen and diversify existing field hedgerows Refer to Appendix 3 for more • New developments could include permeable details; hard landscapes and green roofs where possible to reduce run-off; • New edible hedge planting including Wild Plum, Blackthorn, Crab Apple, Wild Pear, and Wild • Retrofit existing car parks with permeable Gooseberry; paving. • Review of local land management practices in line with the DEFRA 25 Year Environment Plan; Protecting and enhancing biodiversity • Parish wide soil care plan to replenish soil • Support improvements to key biodiversity nutrients, add more carbon to the soil, create network sites which will support habitats and good soil structure, increase soil and above species of significance in the area, including ground diversity, increase depth of topsoil and the ‘greening’ of public realm and reconnecting improve livestock health. strategic GI. Refer to Appendix 3 for more details; • Champion community engagement for management of roadside wildlife verges and community space for biodiversity

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View towards junction of Dartbridge Road and Buckfast Road Grand Canal Cycleway, Devon © Traveldevon.info Conserving, enhancing and Enabling access, fitness and contact strengthening links with landscape with nature • Actively support the Sustrans proposal for a • Enhance the pedestrian crossings at key new A38 corridor cycle route which would junctions to attract people to the area and connect Plymouth to Ashburton; encourage pedestrian exploration of the Parish; • Provide increased accessibility to the wider • Link the steam railway to the town centre via landscape with a variety of types and lengths of development and enhancement of the A38 new footpaths and cycleways for all, 8 to 80 flyover; years old; • Enhance the area below the A38 fly-over to • Create a more sustainable and active travel create an attractive habitat with benefits to network by considering a new cycle/footpath to biodiversity (i.e. invertebrate features, climbing Totnes for the future, in part following the plants, bat and bird boxes). Steam railway line where possible; • Refer to appendices for more detail • Enhance the blue infrastructure ‘Riverside Links’ by enhancing biodiversity and pedestrian links along the River Dart and Mardle, where feasible. Including within the Devonia Securing local food supply development to provide new connections to the • Support and encourage cottage industry and wider green infrastructure networks home-grown products such as honey, nuts, fruit trees and organic foods; • Provide new orchards and enhance existing Conserving and enhancing the orchards linking-in with the GI network of the historic environment surrounding area. • Reinforce hedgerows along historic boundaries; Responding to climate change • Introduce heritage fruit trees for proposed orchards; • Look at upstream run off issues and work to combat this. Vegetating the upper slopes of the • Planting and soft landscape to be sensitively surrounding hills and soil care plans would designed and implemented to enhance setting assist in reducing the impact of flooding to the of SAM’s, historic building and within the local area; conservation area. • Create a more sustainable and active travel network in order to reduce pollution.

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Community cohesion • Creation of a town square sited where there is already high pedestrian footfall and visibility to • Provide and regenerate areas to aid education host outdoor community activities. For programmes, schools and youth activities; example, a larger weekly farmers market. This • Create accessible local community gardens would result in the reallocation of a few car and 'green' streets on a micro scalexxix such as parking spaces, however it would provide a benches at key points, planters in front gardens valuable community asset that attracts people (linked with Britain in Bloom); to the area, provides a meeting space for the community, supports business and economic • Upgrade and develop greater access to uplift; Refer to Appendix 4 for more details on recreation areas and sport facilities; public realm enhancements of the town square • Green space and community assets – Initial • Improve and enhance the pedestrian feedback from a recent consultation event to ‘gateways’ into Buckfast and Buckfastleigh with gauge public interest regarding the possible raised table junctions, widening and resurfacing transfer of all Teignbridge DC owned green footpaths, benches, planters and potential space and assets is that there is a public art features to emphasis gateway to need/demand for community growing, Dartmoor and the town. composting and orchards etc; • Explore the potential regeneration of Dial Court as a makerspace/workshop space 26

Generating income and attracting investment • Enhance the key ‘gateway’ entrances to the town with planting e.g. spring bulbs and wildflowers, building on the work already done (crocuses for spring 2018);

• Improve pedestrian and cycle linkages between Buckfastleigh and Buckfast; • Improve signage and street furniture to guide visitors.

• New market square would attract visitors and local visitors to the area

Higher Mill, Buckfast Dial Court, Oke, Buckfastleigh

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Dial Court, Buckfastleigh

Next Steps…

Following the approval of the neighbourhood plan, these are several potential future steps: • Explore development of liaison between Town Council and Buckfast Abbey for collaboration in • Further public consultation on which ideas to public realm improvements of gateway sites; develop further leading to feasibility studies for • Work with Steam Railway to develop Riverside key project for example the new town square; Links and gateway sites; • Explore possibility of temporary road closures, • Explore funding opportunity to develop a events and street parties to engage the feasibility study for a new town square and community more and change perception about public realm improvements. streets i.e. to consider them as public spaces

rather than for just allowing vehicular access into an area; • Research funding opportunities from the National Park and central government for improving towns in areas of poor health; • Gain public art grants for gateway features and public realm improvement; • Investigate grants for planting of woodland and small-scale planting schemes; • Stewardship schemes for farming land to allow access and improve biodiversity value of field margins in line with the 25 Year Environment Plan;

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Conclusions

The Parish is steeped in history, with a strong sense of community and positivity from the people that live here. However, there is also a sense that Buckfastleigh, in particular has been neglected and overlooked. The Parish’s population is in decline with an ever increasing aging community. The Parish also suffers from the pressures of climate change with flood events common. The area needs a more resilient and biodiverse landscape, attractive and accessible public realm and countryside to safeguard future growth of the area. This GIS strengthens, supports and informs the Town Council’s Neighbourhood Plan, generating proposals and funding opportunities to progress change. The proposals within the GIS have been developed to support growth within the Parish for the period 2017 – 2027 and beyond. Improvements to public realm and access between Buckfastleigh and Buckfast. and into the wider area. will provide attractive gateways and support the health and wellbeing of the community. Enhancement of green of corridors and the use of sustainable land management practices will encourage and support biodiversity. Production of local food supplies, creating a more sustainable travel network and managing flood risk will safeguard for the future. This report is limited; a greater depth of understanding and evaluation can only occur with the utilisation of other resources and wider consultations, for example further consultations and feasibility studies exploring public realm proposals. In conclusion, the proposals developed within the NP and this accompanying GIS will help to support the development of a place which is sustainable, economically vibrant, environmentally beautiful and protected, culturally rich and a socially friendly and caring place to live, work and visit for all.

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Appendices

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Appendix 1

Evidence and Policy decision-making and thereby unlock growth in the The provision of green infrastructure in and around green economy and reconnect people with nature. urban areas is now widely recognised as contributing towards creating places where people Biodiversity 2020: A strategy for England’s wildlife want to live and work. The concept of green and ecosystem services builds on the Natural infrastructure is embodied in the Government’s Environment White Paper and provides a Planning Policy Statements (PPS) 1 and 12. It is an comprehensive picture of how we are implementing essential component of good planning for urban our international and EU commitments. The and rural areas, particularly in the face of climate mission is: to halt overall biodiversity loss, support change…… Its design and management should healthy well-functioning ecosystems and establish also respect and enhance the character and coherent ecological networks, with more and better distinctiveness of an area with regard to habitats places for nature for the benefit of wildlife and and landscape types. people.

The NPPF states that the planning system should Statements of Environmental Opportunity within “contribute to and enhance the natural and local the National Character Area profiles for ecosystem environment by …minimising impacts on goods and services within the Parish promote the biodiversity and providing net gains in biodiversity management, enhancement and where necessary where possible”. protection of the diversity of land use and activity which gives the Devon Redlands its distinctive The 2011 UK National Ecosystem Assessment (UK character. Increase the connectivity of key habitats NEA) June 2011 provides a comprehensive for the benefit of landscape, biodiversity and account of how the natural world, including its ecosystem services biodiversity, provides us with services that are critical to our well-being and economic prosperity. It Other agreements that UK has significant concluded that the natural world and its commitments to - The Ramsar Convention on ecosystems are important to our well-being and Wetlands of International Importance and the economic prosperity. However, the NEA also European Union (EU) Marine Strategy Framework showed that ‘nature is consistently undervalued in Directive (MSFD). decision-making and that many of the services we get from nature are in decline’.

The Convention on Biological Diversity in October 2010 where over 190 countries signed an historic global agreement in Nagoya, Japan to take urgent and effective action to halt the alarming global declines in biodiversity.

In June 2011, the UK Government published The Natural Choice – the first Natural Environment White Paper for 20 years. This responded to the global commitments made at Nagoya. It outlined the Government’s vision for the natural environment, shifting the emphasis from piecemeal conservation action towards a more integrated landscape scale approach. It also set out how we can better value the natural environment in

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Appendix 2

Evidence and Policy – Flood prevention and upland woodland planting

In the last 15 years there has been an increase in • Create wind shelter for liverstock and reduce research, guidance and policy on more natural wet/muddy field structure flood prevention interventions. For example, rain • Enhance biodiversity gardens, river bank planting and swales. In rural • Connecting isolated habitats and creating areas, in particular with steep slopes with many stronger ecosystem (links to diversity and low land tributaries, upland woodland planting has genetics) major impact on flood prevention: • Positive links with flood prevention measures “planting tree belts across the slopes led to on mental health2 increased infiltration of water into the soil - more • Opportunities for funding via Woodland Trust3 than 60 times that of neighbouring sheep grazed and Payment for Ecosystem Services4 pasture without tree belts.….the result was a • Very cost-effective compared to heavily- potential reduction in peak stream flows of as engineered, highly expensive flood defences. much as 40%. • Improve water quality and prevents soil erosion There are also additional benefits to woodland • Can be linked with increased recreational planting on upland areas: access

2 Flooding and mental health - Gov.uk https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_ 4 Payment for Ecosystem Services data/file/348903/Flooding_and_mental_health_essential_information_ https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/payments-for- for_frontline_responders.pdf ecosystem-services-pes-best-practice-guide 3 Woodland Planting and flood prevention https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2016/12/flood-prevention/

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website Appendix 3 http://devonhedges.org/resources/grants/

Biodiversity Enhancement sites A38 fly-over and gateway to Steam Railway Roadside verges • This location currently has very little in the way of habitat for biodiversity. It is very shaded, • Expand the County Wildlife Site and Special and vegetation does not thrive here naturally; Verges already located in Buckfastleigh on the wide roadside verges along Higher Mill lane • Features such as free-standing habitat walls leading down towards Buckfast; could be provided for a range of species (in particular bats and birds); • DNPA with Plantlife have coordinated recent surveys and small-scale habitat management. • Habitat walls could have an added interest for Further funding is being sought to continue the passing public as art installations. and expand this. Contact James Rogers, Farming and community wildlife officer [email protected] Allotments • The privately-owned allotments to the north of Fore Street could offer a suitable location (sheltered, close to water and surrounding vegetation and undisturbed) for a Community Bee apiary; • The creation of a bee apiary could be undertaken in collaboration with Buckfast Animal Wall © by Gitta Gschwendtner Abbey. The Buckfast Beekeeping Group is Whitecleave Quarry specifically aimed at supporting people who would like to keep and breed Buckfast type • The restoration of Whitecleave Quarry bees presents an opportunity for wildlife and social http://www.buckfastbeekeepersgroup.co.uk/ amenities. Advice and guidance can be found at the Nature After Minerals (NAM) is a Millennium Green partnership programme • Community orchards perfectly encapsulate the http://www.afterminerals.com/ traditional notion of a village coming together Devonia site to share in a common interest and most attractively, benefiting from the results • Enhancement of strategic flyway along Mardle (www.ptes.org). Community orchard grants with hedgerow planting and creation of a dark are available to support the creation of corridor along this feature. orchards in publically accessible location such Riverside links and land management as the Orchard Millennium Green; • Management of Himalayan Balsam along the • Enhancement of the orchard in this location River Dart and associated tributaries, funding could support the community work already opportunities via Countryside Stewardship being provided by the Orchard Millennium schemes; Green Trust. • Management of riverside habitats for the Planting hedgebanks along Parish boundaries. benefit of wildlife. Advice notes can be found • The Devon Hedge Group draws together a via the Devon Wildlife Trust and funding wide range of organisations and individuals opportunities are available via Countryside interested in conserving Devon’s hedges. Stewardship schemes; Funding opportunities can be found on their

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• Clean water supplies are important for everyone and for every farm business. How farmland is managed can have a huge impact on our water supplies. Management of farmland within the River Dart catchment including soil, fertiliser, manure and livestock management and farm infrastructure can achieve clean water and a healthy environment. Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes involve payments to the managers of land or other natural resources in exchange for the provision of specified ecosystem services (i.e. PES for farmland). Upstream Thinking is South West Water’s multi-award-winning approach to keeping drinking and bathing water clean and affordable by stopping pollutants entering our rivers and streams. Working Wetlands Advisers are working with landowners to address potential sources of pollution on farm with the aim of protecting water quality and restoring important wildlife habitats http://www.upstreamthinking.org/

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Appendix 4

New Town Square

Bonn Square, Oxford © Graeme Massie • Would require the relocation of three car Buckfastleigh lacks a central square and focus parking spaces at Mardle Way Car Park. point for events and markets. The road network • The extent of the square is to include creating a dominates the town and infringes access. A new small raised area on Chapel Street, unifying the square would draw people into the town, facilitate new square with the town and slowing traffic to local events, fetes and markets, increase social create a more pedestrian friendly place. interaction and community focus, provide a • The new square would include facilities to meeting point. enable market stalls and small scale events for • It would be located near the established example, electrical and water points, with the retail/commercial core and adjacent to high potential of spilling out on to adjacent streets to footfall routes with clear lines of visibility to enable expansion. attract passers-by • To encourage positive social interaction with well overlooked bench sitting, attractive lighting and plantings to soften the hard landscape. • Will require the removal or relocation of the existing stone wall to increase visibility and natural surveillance, and reduce traffic speeds. If the wall was to remain, the square would be much less successful and potentially attract anti-social behaviour.

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Appendix 5

Foot and cycle path design guide A crucial part of creating a sustainable neighbourhood is to create a long term pedestrian and cycle network. Provide a future extensive network connection to Totnes and Dartmoor National Park Creating and enhancing green corridors throughout the parish a journey from doorstep to countryside and beyond. A dedicated and segregated footpath and cycle route that will vary in character depending on location, minimum of 4.5m wide (2m wide footpath and 2m wide cycle path with 500mm wide a grass central strip). All year round access; flood prevention required. A nominal 10m wide strip is preferred, where feasible, to include possible banking and planting. Strategic footpath forming part of a wide multi- functional green corridor min. 2m wide where possible.

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References

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